• REALTORS®, primary or secondary members, who are principal brokers.
• REALTORS®, primary or secondary members, who are notprincipals, provided his or her principal broker joins in the request
• Clients or customers of the REALTOR® (see note below).
• The request also must:
  1. Be in writing;
  2. Be signed by the Complainant;
  3. Indicate the amount in dispute;
  4. Be filed within 180 days of either closing of the transaction or after the facts could have become known, whichever is later.

Arbitration facilities are provided by RASM as a service to its members. Arbitration is not a disciplinary proceeding, nor does it award damages. By becoming and remaining a member of RASM, REALTORS® bind themselves to arbitrate certain disputes. In all arbitrable matters, mediation is offered prior to a formal hearing.

Be aware that not every situation may be arbitrated at RASM. There are conditions and limitations to be considered, which will be explained to you by RASM’s Professional Standards Administrator as the process continues.

Note: Disputes involving clients or customers require that the client or customer sign an agreement to arbitrate and to be bound by the arbitration. Whether the complainant is a client or a customer and whether the dispute is one that can be processed by RASM’s Grievance Committee is determined by RASM’s Grievance Committee.

RASM has limitations to its authority regarding its members. Below is a list of those limitations:

1. RASM cannot hold an administrative hearing for violations of the Florida real estate license law or any other alleged violation of the law. It has jurisdiction only over violations of membership duties. The Florida Real Estate Commission has sole control of the real estate agent’s license to sell real estate. If you think a person has violated the law, you should be contacting another agency.
2. For the same reason, RASM cannot suspend or terminate the real estate license of one of its members.
3. RASM can in the case of an ethics violation being determined in a due process hearing procedure, administer discipline to the REALTOR® in one or more of the following ways.
   1. Send a letter of warning or reprimand to the member.
   2. Direct the member to attend an ethics class or other training appropriate to the violation.
   3. Assess an appropriate and reasonable fine not to exceed $15,000 (this fine is not awarded to the complainant).
   4. Place the member on probation for a stated period of time not less than thirty (30) days or more than one (1) year.
   5. Suspend the membership of the individual for a stated period of time not less than thirty (30) days or more than one (1) year.
   6. Expel the member from membership with no reinstatement privilege for a specified period of one (1) to three (3) years.
   7. MLS suspension (30 days to 1 year) or MLS termination of 1 to 3 years.
   8. If Respondent is found in violation of the Code of Ethics, and administrative processing fee of $500 will be assessed.
4. Monetary damages cannot be a part of an ethics proceeding.
5. RASM can arbitrate certain money disputes and must in some situations, but the member of the public must agree in writing to arbitrate the dispute and to be bound by the decision.
6. The award in arbitration cannot be greater than the amount in dispute, may not include “punitive” damages and may not include attorney’s fees unless expressly provided for in the agreement giving rise
   to the dispute.

The process is very similar to filing an ethics complaint. Steps to follow are:

1. Click HERE.
2. Complete the form by naming the Designated REALTOR® and REALTOR®(s) involved (Respondents). The Designated REALTOR® with a firm must be named in addition to the REALTOR®(s) involved.
3. Indicate the exact amount in dispute.
4. Include an explanation of the situation. State why you feel you are entitled to an award of some kind. Remember, don’t include allegations of unethical conduct in your argument. If you think there have been ethical violations, they must be handled separately with an ethics complaint.
5. Attach copies of all pertinent documents such as listing agreements, purchase and sales agreements, and closing statements, plus any notarized statements from witnesses. A chronological summary is very helpful to understanding your case.
6. RASM requires an arbitration deposit of $500 and it must be included with your filing. Details are included in the arbitration packet you receive.
7. Sign the arbitration agreement (Form #A-1, Member or Form #A-2, Nonmember)indicating your commitment to abide by the decision of the Hearing Panel.
8. Mail and email a complete digital version the original plus seven (7) copies and email a complete digital version of these items to RASM to the attention of the Professional Standards Administrator. Remember, it is not unusual for RASM to receive an ethics complaint and an arbitration request surrounding the same set of circumstances. If you think the REALTOR®(s) violated the Code of Ethics and you have a monetary dispute you must complete both forms.

RASM will offer Mediation Services to the complainant and if agreed, we will then contact the respondent to ascertain their willingness to mediate the issue. If mediation is not desirable, the complaint is reviewed at the next regularly scheduled Grievance Committee meeting. If deemed arbitrable, mediation will once again be offered to both parties.

NOTE: Both parties must agree to mediate. If mediation is not desirable, the Respondent will then be sent a copy of the Arbitration complaint and will have 15 days to respond.

The Grievance Committee’s role in arbitration is different from ethics complaints. Its only function is to make such preliminary determination that the matter is subject to arbitration by RASM. Arbitration sometimes is a duty and sometimes a privilege. The Committee must decide whether your situation fits into the “Duty” or the “Privilege” category. It does this by determining:

1. Where you are authorized, under the rules, to invoke arbitration.
2. Whether the controversy described is an arbitrable matter.
3. Whether the arbitration is mandatory or voluntary to the people involved (this simply means whether arbitrating the dispute is compulsory or not).
4. Whether the amount in dispute is too small or too large, or the matter is too legally complicated for RASM to consider.
5. Whether or not the request is filed within the time frame (180 days).

Such a review could result in the release of RASM members from the obligation to arbitrate, and thus free you to seek other recourse to resolve the dispute.

If the Grievance Committee determines that a matter is arbitrable, the parties will be notified that a Mediation procedure is available as a preliminary, voluntary alternative to arbitration. If the Committee determines that the matter is not arbitrable, the case will be dismissed, and deposit will be refunded.

You may appeal a dismissal of an arbitration request to RASM’s Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will review the complaint submitted and can uphold or overturn the Grievance Committee’s dismissal. Complainant and Respondent are not present for the appeal.

In either ethics or arbitration cases, you will be informed promptly of the Grievance Committee’s decision. If the Grievance Committee forwards the complaint or request to a hearing, it is assigned to RASM’s Professional Standards Committee.

The function of this Committee is to hold ethics and arbitration hearings. The Professional Standards Committee will provide a Hearing Panel, consisting of five members of the Professional Standards Committee of RASM.

Both the Complainant and Respondent are notified of the hearing date, time and place at least 21 days prior to the Hearing date.

These hearings provide an opportunity for the Complainant and the Respondent to explain their side of the story by presenting testimony and witnesses, if any. Once all the facts have been presented to the appointed Hearing Panel, the Panel will go into executive session to determine whether the Code of Ethics has been violated, or, in the case of arbitration, how the dispute should be settled. The Complainant and Respondent will be notified of the Panel’s decision.

You will be informed by RASM about each step of this process as it occurs. Complainant and Respondent also will be given instructions about the hearing procedures prior to the hearing. The entire process usually will take a minimum of 60 days, but may take longer. In arbitration cases, only the prevailing party’s deposit will be refunded.

The Professional Standards Administrator at the REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee at 2320 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34232. (941) 952-3402.